Forum

DHL Requesting MY SS# or EIN#
 

I've had a shipment from DH Gate sitting in customs in Los Angeles for a few days. I wasn't too worried as I figured the holiday might account for the delay. I little while ago DHL called me and said the company name on the shipment was the delay. They said if I could give them either my social security number or the Employer Identification number (EIN) they could release the goods. Otherwise they are going to return them to DH Gate tomorrow.

Anyone have any thoughts on whether I should give them that information or not? Any insight at all would be greatly appreciated.

ive never heard of a shipping company request a social security number before

same here, sounds a little weird.. i would just wait it out and see what happens

It does sound weird.

What does the shipment contains?

Sent from my DROID3 using Tapatalk

not normal..........

Very odd.

Something is up with this.

No way would I give a shipper this info.

The requested the same info from me. I sent them my EIN.

Under NO CIRCUMSTANCES should you give out that information.

My friend had this happen to him also with DHL. They told him it was needed for tax purposes. He didn't need to pay any sort of customs fees to get the package or anything. The stuff in the package wasn't bootleg or ⊗⊗⊗⊗ either. It was all legit stuff so he gave them his SSN and they released the package to him.

i dont' understand why dhl would need ein/ssn

I HIGHLY suggest you dont give them any info unless your package contains completly legit items.

ers
 

No way would I give DHL my EIN or SS without knowing what they need it for. I would call DHL HQ and ask why they needed this type of info to deliver a package.

I cannot think of any reason they would need this unless it was something suspicious.

I would walk lighting with this.

I dont know why they would request any kind of info like that but I would never send any EIN or SSN. You just don't know who is on the other side of the phone. Scams with SSN are very common these days.

No way in hell i would give them either.

I'm with him in using the hell word

yeah, i would rather lose the package than to have to provide them with my ssn or any personal info....even if it was legit items or not

No way would I give them that info....too sensitive. I agree, call them and ask them why they need such personal info in the first place.

Let them return the package and have your supplier reship with another service?

Under no circumstances give any personal info on the basis of a phone call.

What proof do you have it is a real call?

At least a request should be in writing and even then it is debatable if one should respond.:juggle:

do you mind if i ask what was in the box?

. Important to know what was in the package.

Here's What Happened
 

Hey Everyone,

Here's the latest. I told DHL yesterday via email I wasn't comfortable giving them this type of information unless they could explain to my satisfaction why they wanted it and why it was going to the IRS. I also told them this never happened in previous shipments. I received an auto reply telling me the woman who initially asked for the information was off the balance of the week and also saw she forwarded the matter to another person at DHL.

I contacted that guy and asked the same thing. This morning I received a reply from him so thought I'd just copy and paste it here so everyone can get up to speed on this matter. Seems important we all discuss this so none of us end up in hot water. Here's his reply:

"Tony, the IRS will not be involved, but Customs requires the IRS number for formal entry of the goods. If this shipment is typical of most of your shipments, I can see why you would not have been requested to provide it before. Usually a shipment such as this will clear off the ship's manifest, with no additional details being needed. This one however was placed on hold by US Customs and they subsequently requested the formal entry. That is why we require the IRS for the company. I have pasted some details regarding the need for a US tax ID below, taken from the Customs website,
Tips for New Importers and Exporters - CBP.gov. You can find the same details at the site itself, but here you go."

"CBP entry forms do ask for your importer number: this is either your IRS business registration number, or if your business is not registered with the IRS or you do not have a business, your social security number will be sufficient. As an alternative, you may request a CBP assigned number by completing a Customs Form 5106 and presenting it to the Entry Branch at a CBP port of entry."

I hope this helps to make sense of the request.

Best Regards,
Robert Melius
Clearance Support Lead
NCBFAA Certified Customs Specialist
LAX Gateway

DHL Express
5791 W Imperial Hwy
Los Angeles CA 90045

I've been importing for 3-1/2 years and know it quite well but I look forward to everyone's comments and thoughts as no one person can ever know too much about any matter.

Its because the package is over $2000 Value and was not defined as personal or commercial goods. It is an error in paperwork from the sender. Yes tax purposes. I do not believe it is to prosecute for ⊗⊗⊗⊗ as much as it is avoiding import taxes.

The plot thickens!!! The guy that told me earlier I only needed to provide my business name now came back to me with another email requesting something in writing be faxed or scanned and emailed to him showing my EIN or SS#. There's no way he's getting that. I told him he can return the goods as I was uncomfortable giving out any information like that. Not sure what to think at this point. Guess I'll just reorder through my supplier with a different carrier.

I still think this is your best bet. Suck it up, play the game, and have supplier resend it using alternative info/methods.

DHL is nothing but con's and snakes in the f**kin grass...

The plot does not really thicken.

You are importing sufficent monetary value of goods to be required to supply the relevant info to comply with Federal Customs regulations.

Nothing sinister. Just your importations have caught up with you.

You need to redo your business plan. By the looks of this incident, you have been determined to be an importer. That moves you to a different area.

Go find a tax professional. Dont ignore getting a documented request for ID.

It's a different story from what was stated in your opening post.

For the posters that supplied the inane comments, dont bother to derail a thread again :boink: